Discovery of a Nearly Edge-On Disk Around HD 32297

Abstract

We report the discovery of a nearly edge-on disk about the A0 star HD 32297 seen in light scattered by the disk grains revealed in NICMOS PSF-subtracted coronagraphic images. The disk extends to a distance of at least 400 AU (3.3") along its major axis with a 1.1 micron flux density of 4.81 +/-0.57 mJy beyond a radius of 0.3" from the coronagraphically occulted star. The fraction of 1.1 micron starlight scattered by the disk, 0.0033 +/- 0.0004, is comparable to its fractional excess emission at 25 + 60 micron of ~ 0.0027 as measured from IRAS data. The disk appears to be inclined 10.5 degrees +/- 2.5 degrees from an edge-on viewing geometry, with its major axis oriented 236.5 degrees +/- 1 degree eastward of north. The disk exhibits unequal brightness in opposing sides and a break in the surface brightness profile along NE-side disk major axis. Such asymmetries might implicate the existence of one or more (unseen) planetary mass companions.